Periodic circuit-closer.



No. 727,625. l PATENTE!) MAY l2, 1903. C. D. HASKINS.

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UNITED STAT-Es 'Patented May 12, 1903.

PATENT OEEICE.

CARYL D. IIASKINS, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PERIODIC CIRCUIT-CLOSER.-

SPEIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 727,625, dated May 12, 1903.

Application filed August 9, 1901. Serial No. 71,494. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom, it 771,603/ concern:

Be it known that I, CARYL D. HAsKINs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Periodic Circuit-Controllers, (Case No. 2,l63,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to circuit-controllers 1o designed to be operated at determinate time periods to cut into or out of operation at such periods electric-circuits, including translating devices.

The object of the invention is to provide a x5 device of this character which may operate at long intervals, which will be of a simple and durable construction, and may be relied upon to perform its functions continuously` without the attention of an operator. De-- 2o vices having the same general purpose in view have been heretofore provided controlled in operation by clockwork, which is tention in oiling or winding the clockworkf and through inherent disability due to the delicacy of the apparatus.

In carrying out my invention I provide a 3o rotative reservoir in which is contained a mobile material and constructed so that the material can liow from one chamber to another and means by which the device may be rotated after a determinate amount of material has been so transferred. When shifted to either of its operating positions, the transfer from one chamber to another begins, and after a definite time interval the device operates an electric circuit, which shifts it in po- 4o sition and effects retransfer to the original chamber. In shifting from one position to another it actuates the circuit it is designed4 to control... f

The invention embodies various features of novelty, which will be more fully hereinafter described, and will be definitely indicated in the claims appended to this specification.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating 5o the invention, Figure l is a diagrammatic illustration showing a periodic circuit-con- Such devices 'have the disadvan.

troller embodying myinvention in operative relation to a controlled circuit. Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing the construction of the periodic controller.

Referring first to Fig. 2, l represents a reservoir, which may be conveniently of hourglassform with screw-joints, as indicated, by which it may be assembled and taken apart. ItV is provided with two connected chambers la lb and is mounted on a shaft 2, supported in bearings, so as to be capable of free rotation. The shaft carries a pinion 3, by which the device maybe revolved. I employ within the hollow structure a mobile material capable of transfer from one chamberv to the other. I preferably employ for this purpose a conducting liquid, such as mercury, though it is not absolutely essential that conducting material be employed, since anon-conducting material might be used in connection with a iioat to control the circuit-contacts. Mercury or a similar conductor, however, is preferred on account of thesimplicity of construction. The Walls of the-'vessel in such case should be formed of iron, glass, or some material which does not amalgamate. The two chambers are connected byltv'vol tubes 4 5, having fine bores, each of which connects the outer end of a chamber with the inner end of the other chamber.

jEach chamber is provided with a pair of insulating-contacts 6 6a 7 7a, electrically conlnectedwith insulated contact-rings 6b 6C and 7b 7, on which bear brushes 8 8 9 9, leading to operating devices for shifting the controller, as will be hereinafter more fully described. The contacts GfL 7a are adjustable, so as to 4change the time interval before contact is IOO containing a group of lamps, as shown at 13,

which it may be desired to operate atdeterminate intervals. For example, it is not unusual to cut in and out at determinate hours of the night a group of lamps in a store or other place where the current is furnished on contract. This may be easily effected by the employment of my periodic circuit-controller, which at determinate intervals may operate an electromagnet 14, governing a switch 15, controlling the group of lamps.Y Theoperating-current for the control-circuit may be furnished from anysource. For example,rit may be derived from the arc-lamp circuit, as by means of a shunt around a resistanceV 16.

Assuming the devices in the position indif cated in Fig. 2, when the arc-light circuit 12 is energized a circuit through magnet 11 will be closed over wire 17, brush 8, contact-ring 6b, contact 6, mercury bridge, contact 6, ringcontact6c, brush 8, wire 18, coils of magnet 11, wire 19, thus permitting resistance 16 to shunt an operating-current through magnet 11, which draws the raclr 1() to the left, and thereby'inverts the reservoir and simultaneously shifts switch 20, energizing magnet 14C and closing switch 15. The lamps in circuit 13 are thus started. Mercury then slowly escapes from chamber 1b to l, The rate of flow may be, if desired, drop by drop and the contact 7 may be set for the period the lamps 13 are to'burn, atthe end of which period contacts 7 7a will be bridged and magnet 11 energized Vover circuit 17, coil of 11a, wire 2l, brush 9a, contact-ring 7b, contact 7, mercury bridge, contact 7, contact-ring 7, brush 9, wires22'and 19. Rack-10 is thus drawn to the right and lamps 13 cut out. The reservoir is again inverted and the mercury ills chamber 1b ready for action the following night. In the case of a constant-potential circuit the cycle ofYV operations may be continuously repeated,rthe contacts 6a 7'LL being adjusted, so that switch 15 will be closed atea certain hour and opened atY a certain later hour. Obviously this is merely a question of the rate of' flow of the mercury and the position of the contacts.

The apparatus has been shown in connection with arc-lamps. It is, however, of general applicability wherever a time-operated device is needed to periodically operate or control other apparatus.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. A periodic circuit-controller comprising a pivoted reservoir provided with two chambers, a fine duct between them, circuit-terminals sealed into the walls'of the chamber, a conducting liquid adapted to be transferred through the duct from one chamber to another, and electromagnetic means for tilting the reservoir when the circuit is closed,where by continuous operation is eected.

2. Aperiodic circuit-controller comprising a pivoted reservoir provided with two chambers, connecting-channels for permitting a slow transterof liquid from one chamber to the other, an adjustable contact to close a circuit when a determinate amount of liquid has been transferred to either chamber, and electromagnets in the circuit for tilting the reservoir to effect transfer of the liquid to the empty chamber.

3. Aperiodic circuit-controller comprising a rotative reservoir provided withitwo communicating chambers on opposite sides of the pivot, electromagnets for inverting the reser- Voir, armatures alternately shifted into operative relation to the magnets, and contacts alternately energizing the electromagnets as the chambers empty'. i

4. A periodic circuit-controller comprising a pivoted reservoir containing two chambers, tubular ducts connecting the bottom of each chamber with the top of the other for permitting a slow transfer from one chamber to the other, contacts actuated by a transfer from either chamber, electromagnetic deviceslfor reversing the reservoir when the contacts are actuated, and connections for operating a controlled apparatus by the periodic changes. ,i

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 8th day of'August, 1901. v

" CARYL D. l-IASKINS.

IVitnesses: Y

BENJAMIN B. HULL, CHARLES STEiNER. 

